Gov’t ready to release Php 27B new fresh fund for sustainable livelihood in Yolanda-hit areas

President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the facilities of the temporary shelter at the Cogon Relocation Site in Barangay Cogon, Guiuan during a visit to the province of Eastern Samar on Friday (November 07). With the President are DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman and DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson. More than 200 Yolanda survivors will benefit from some 133 housing units. It was in Guiuan where super Typhoon Yolanda, the strongest typhoon ever recorded, made its first landfall on November 08, 2013. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo bureau)

MANILA — The government will now focus in building back sustainable livelihood in areas mostly affected by typhoon ‘Yolanda’.

Department of Trade and Industry-Regional Operations Group (DTI-ROG) Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said in a radio interview Saturday that after providing emergency employment in ‘Yolanda’-hit areas, the government’s livelihood cluster now focuses in establishing resilient businesses to generate sustainable employment.

Maglaya said that the government would now help farmers, fisherfolks, as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through different livelihood programs.

“The Small Business (SB) Corporation had approved loan worth Php400 million for ‘Yolanda’-affected businesses. They were released by tranches. For micro entrepreneurs, we have trained them then we provide them capital in the form of goods. So for weavers, we provide them raw materials and shared service facilities while for retail store owners we provide them set of goods,” she said.

According to the DTI official, to date, the government has provided Php3.8 billion to create sustainable livelihood in typhoon-hit areas.

Bulk of the fund, or Php2.3 billion, was an initial fund released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) while the other Php690 million were from regular funds of nine agencies under the livelihood cluster.

“The government has provided Php3.8 billion and we are waiting another Php27 billion as the Comprehensive Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan is now approved,” Maglaya said.

Hence, the additional funds that will soon be released by the government assure continued support for the survivors of typhoon ‘Yolanda’, said Maglaya.

She also said that since there was a livelihood cluster for ‘Yolanda’ rehabilitation, there was a close cooperation among agencies.

“DTI will help our entrepreneurs to market their products while DA (Department of Agriculture), DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform), and PCA (Philippine coconut Authority), will focus on helping them in terms of plantation and production,” she added.